5 Things to Consider Before Investing in Classroom Supplies

Furnish your classroom without breaking the bank

As an administrator, it’s your responsibility to keep your school stocked with the kinds of classroom supplies that will help teachers inspire and engage their students. There’s a lot to choose from, so it’s smart to have a plan before you start shopping. Here are five ways to make shopping for the next school year go more smoothly.

5 things to consider before investing in classroom supplies

1. Make a list of everything you need & when you’ll need it

Take some time to go over teachers’ lesson plans for the coming semester. Use their input to make a list of everything students need to fully engage with these lessons. For example, art teachers may need specific paint brushes, while computer science instructors might need a particular program to support their lessons.

Pacing this exercise by semester or marking period makes it less likely that you’ll end up with materials you don’t need. After all, long-term lesson plans or classroom rosters may change. Once you know what you need and when you need it, develop a budget that reflects what you are able to spend on supplies based on the money you have. From there, you can determine ways to increase your budget, like fundraising events or crowdsourcing campaigns. 

2. Research where you can find additional money

Before spending on supplies, investigate ways outside of your normal budget to get funding for your teachers’ needs. For example, certain districts may provide stipends to help educators buy materials. Be sure to do your research and find out if there are any requirements to obtain the stipend—or limits on what you can buy with it.

Your schools may also qualify for grants designed to support teachers who need classroom supplies. These kinds of grants range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Pay special attention to the qualifications for each one, as some are specific to the teacher’s role, a particular educational interest or even the financial status of the school district. The application may have to come directly from a teacher, so encourage your staff to do their own investigating. 

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You may be surprised at how many people are interested in investing in classroom supplies to help educators. 

3. Understand that newer isn’t always better

Remember checking out your textbooks at the start of the semester, covering them in a colorful sleeve or brown paper bag and returning at the end of the school year? While bulky textbooks may be giving way to electronic resources, that same concept of reusability works for classroom decorations and supplies. 

Take stock of your classroom and everything you believe your students can use from the previous year. Ask your teachers if they have materials they can share. For example, if one of your teachers is retiring or moving to a different grade, that could be the perfect opportunity to reuse something they no longer need. 

Hold a school supply drive so the community can chip in. Furniture, cameras, sports equipment, cookware—plenty of gently used household items could get a second life in the classroom!

4. Search for savings

It feels good to find a great sale that helps you buy the perfect supplement for an upcoming lesson. To find the best prices possible, you must stay current on promotions for school supplies. This means knowing what sales and retail events are occurring long after back-to-school promotions have stopped.

This is also where buying teacher supplies online or through an app can be valuable. First, depending on the platform, you may be able to get free shipping, low prices or other valuable benefits. 

To access these deals, you’ll typically need to sign up for a free account, but don’t hesitate if the rewards are worthwhile. For example, schools and businesses with a Walmart Business account get free delivery on orders of $35 or more.¹

5. Don’t forget the decorations

Inspiring students takes more than pens, pencils and books, which is why teachers are always looking for ways to add character to their classrooms. Survey your educators about the classroom decoration ideas they want to see in the coming school year. Free up some budget that allows them to adorn their walls in inspiring art, posters, maps and more. You can even see if any teachers have similar theme ideas that would allow them to share decor and reuse those decorations year after year.

Find the classroom supplies you need with Walmart Business

Properly investing in classroom supplies is part of creating a great learning environment. Done wisely, it can set you up for a good school year. Smart organization, sound budgeting and finding the right retail partner can help you get the supplies your students need. When you sign up for Walmart Business, you can start the school year with a wide range of supplies just right for your school.

If your district already has a Walmart Business account, consider upgrading to a Walmart Business+ membership for free shipping² free delivery from local stores on orders over $35¹ and 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards.³ That could add up to over $500 a year in savings!⁴ Click here to learn more.

¹ Restrictions apply.

² Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).